26 Jun Everything about the Dalmatian breed

Many of us know the Dalmatian dog because of the “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” animation, But maybe we didn’t know much about them. In this article, we’ll talk about this particular black and white spotted dog and give you helpful information about his physical and behavioural characteristics, nutrition, training and grooming. So stay tuned to know everything about the Dalmatian breed.

History of the Dalmatian breed

The origin of the Dalmatian breed isn’t known precisely. But the dog takes his name from Dalmatia, the name of a coastal region that was once part of Austria. Many people believe that Dalmatians are a descendant of the Pointer dog. These dogs were used in the 19th century to escort carriages and guard horses against other dogs and dangers, making them very popular. The Dalmatians also had a strong presence in the fire stations to watch and guard the war, as show dogs in the circus and hunting, and most importantly, as a symbol of good fortune and luck. The Walt Disney Company became the main factor in the popularity of this dignified breed in the 60s. The famous Walt Disney Company cartoon “One Hundred and One Dalmatians”, produced in 1961 in the United States, made the breed world-famous, and many became interested in this dog under the influence of this animation. These dogs are known as companion and family dogs that enjoy living with you and your family members.

Characteristics and appearance of the Dalmatian breed

The spotted appearance of this dog is one of the unique designs and patterns among dog breeds and all animals in the world. It’s interesting to know that Dalmatian puppies are all wholly white, and from the age of 2 weeks onwards, black or brown spots appear on their bodies. Dalmatians have a dignified, majestic, well-trained, muscular, fit body built for activity and mobility. The tail of the Dalmatian dog is relatively long and has a slight curvature at the end. The dog’s hair is short and dense and has black or brown spots on a white background.

The average lifespan of Dalmatian dogs

However, longevity depends on many factors such as nutrition and grooming; But the Dalmatian breed can live between 10 and 13 years if well cared for.

Moral characteristics of Dalmatian dogs

The moral characteristics of the Dalmatians can be summarized as follows:

• Friendly, active and energetic, intelligent, love mobility and outdoors, playful and mischievous
• Dalmatians are very energetic and can work for hours if they can. So, these dogs must have at least half an hour of walking and outdoor activities daily. This spotted breed is also great as a guard dog and is very alert to the presence of strangers.
• They have a high level of loyalty to their owner and family members. These dogs like to be with people and their owners and enjoy attending family activities. Spotted dogs are hilarious and witty, and with their funny work, they always put a smile on your face.
• Spotted dogs have a good relationship with children, although they’re very energetic and lively for young children. Therefore, it’s better to be careful if you have a young child.
• This breed could have a friendly relationship with other dogs and animals, even cats, if he has been socialized since birth, significantly if they grew up together from the beginning.
• It’s interesting to know that these dogs have a perfect and cordial relationship with the horses because they used to take care of them in the carriage.

Dalmatia and lifestyle

Dalmatians are very special in appearance, but can the dog’s arrival be a good criterion for choosing him? Or should we consider other characteristics such as barking rate, hair loss, habitat, moral attributes of the dog, energy level and his relationship with other people and animals, tolerance of being alone and a whole host of other factors? Contrary to many people’s beliefs, choosing a dog breed isn’t an easy task and requires a lot of research. For example, Dalmatians aren’t a good choice for those who go to work and have to leave the dog alone at home! If you choose the right breed, you have taken the first step to a happy and full of understanding life with your dog.

Maintenance

Dalmatians are human companions and always like to be with you. Therefore, if you leave them alone for a long time, they may experience separation anxiety and depression in the dog and may engage in destructive behaviours. The Dalmatian dog is suitable for someone with enough time, patience and energy to spend with his dog. These funny spotted dogs will be the happiest in the world if they live in a place where they can always run, work and jump. Ball games, fetch, hiking, mountaineering and hiking in nature and forests are some of their favourite activities. In short, the more Dalmatians work, the happier they are. They never get tired of the exercise!

Dalmatian and apartment life

Dalmatian dogs are highly energetic and need a lot of exercises and physical activity. A short, simple walk isn’t enough for this breed, and they need more physical training. Also, this breed doesn’t like to be alone, and if he stays alone for a long time, he will suffer behavioural and destructive problems. So, the Dalmatian breed isn’t very suitable for apartment living; Unless you can get your dog out daily for walking and exercise and give him enough time. Only then can you keep this dog in the apartment.

Grooming

Hair care and hygiene

Dalmatians have short hair, and brushing or caring for them is easy. Brushing 1-2 times a week and taking a bath every 3-4 months is enough for this beautiful spotted dog. Of course, Dalmatian has very short hair, but he has a relatively large amount of hair loss. So, it’s necessary to prevent excess hair shedding at home by brushing his coat regularly.

Nail care

you should trim dog nails at least once a month with a dog nail clipper. You can also take your dog to a professional groomer to trim his nails. Dog nails should be carefully trimmed so as not to damage them.

Cleaning ears

The ears of this breed should be checked regularly because of their drooping and downward position so that they don’t get infections and other problems at some point.

Dalmatian racial diseases

One of Dalmatians’ most common health problems is hereditary deafness, inherited from a deaf parent to a puppy. About 8% of Dalmatian dogs are born completely deaf, and 22-24% are born with one deaf ear. Of course, a dog with only one deaf ear can have a regular and good life; But a dog that is deaf in both ears needs special care and maintenance. Bladder or kidney stones are also sometimes seen in them. Proper nutrition and a diet approved by a veterinarian can significantly prevent this problem. Fortunately, the Dalmatians are obsessed with eating and don’t eat everything. Other diseases that may be seen in this breed include hip dysplasia and various skin allergies.

Dalmatian nutritions

Dalmatians are highly energetic. They need quality and nutritious diet. These dogs have different nutritional needs at various stages of life, from a young age to puberty and adulthood, and must be adequately fed. There are two ways to provide them:

• Commercial foods ( dry dog food + canned food )
• Homemade food with a veterinarian-approved recipe

Commercial foods are more accessible, but they’re more expensive. Homemade food costs less as long as the veterinarian approves the ingredients. Their main advantage is that they’re prepared from fresh and quality raw materials. So it certainly tastes better.

Puppy training

You should start training Dalmatian dogs from the very beginning and the first day you bring them home. Even an 8-week-old Dalmatian puppy can quickly learn basic training. Socialization is a critical point in breeding Dalmatian dogs; Because these dogs are inherently a little shy and may not react well to strangers and humans. 

Dalmatian spotted dogs are brilliant; therefore, it isn’t difficult to train them. You can turn them into good guard dogs with proper training because of their guarding instinct. These dogs are susceptible, and the best training method is to use positive approval and encourage good deeds. The use of treats has a significant impact on the learning speed of these spotted dogs; Of course, don’t give him too many treats so that he would become obese and overweight. Never use violence, yelling or corporal punishment in training this dog!

To wrap up

To have a healthy and lively dog, you need to pay attention to nutrition, activity, health, grooming, etc. You can prevent the disease and have a healthy dog in this case. In all these steps, you can count on the specialized team of MishkaGrooming. Our experienced and precise groomers have carefully and accurately groomed your dogs, so they count the moments for the next session.